Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli [Photo-Twitter]

Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore could not get over the line against Chennai Super Kings as the former inflicted an eight-wicket defeat in Dubai. Youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad’s scintillating half-century and a winning six sealed a consolation victory for the three-time champions on Sunday. Virat Kohli lamented the lack of slower balls by the Royal Challengers’ pacers to dent the Super Kings’ chase.

Virat Kohli, who won the toss, chose to bat first and hoped the pitch would slow down as the game progresses apart from reflecting on the match between SunRisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab. The partnership between Kohli and AB De Villiers of 82 was the bedrock of RCB’s innings while the skipper top-scored with 50 off 43 deliveries. For the Super Kings, Sam Curran was the pick of the bowlers with 3-0-19-3.

We Just Didn't Bowl Enough Slower Balls: Virat Kohli Critical Of His Bowlers As CSK Beat RCB By Eight Wickets
Sam Curran. Credits: Twitter

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf Du Plessis began the chase positively as they coasted 46 within six overs. Gaikwad and Ambati Rayudu continued the charge as a 67-run stand put them on track. Despite Yuzvendra Chahal striking at a crucial time to remove Rayudu, they were not able to capitalize on the same. Gaikwad and captain MS Dhoni were the last men and sealed the game and the fourth win for the yellow army.

“Too many boundary balls” : Virat Kohli

We Just Didn't Bowl Enough Slower Balls: Virat Kohli Critical Of His Bowlers As CSK Beat RCB By Eight Wickets
Ambati Rayudu and Ruturaj Gaikwad [Photo-Twitter]
Virat Kohli seemed baffled by how the pitch behaved in the second innings in Dubai as it stopped a bit too much in the first. Kohli conceded that the Super Kings bowled extremely well and was critical of his bowlers not delivering enough slower balls to the opposing batsmen. The 31-year old realized it was challenging to hit the slower balls to the boundary.

What you saw in the second innings wasn’t a true reflection of how difficult the pitch was. We didn’t hit the areas. Too many boundary balls. They bowled really well. We hardly got any drive balls from them. We were looking for 150, but we were happy with 145. Our extra pace might be a factor but that can’t be an excuse. We just didn’t bowl enough slower balls. No change of pace, no bouncers. We saw how difficult it was to get under those slower balls,” Kohli told in the post-match presentation.

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